Foot-control device



J. A. STAPLES,

FOOT CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. [7, I919.

1,367,509. Paigeiited Fb. 1,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. A. STAPLES.

FOOT CONTROL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC-'17. 1919.

1,367,509. Pmwa Feb. 1,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HLJVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOOT-CONTROL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed December 17, 1919. Serial No. 345,525.

To ((71- whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN A'rlvixsox STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residin at Newburgh. in the county of Orange and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot- Control Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described. reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show two embodiments of the invention, selected by me for the purpose of illustration. and the said invention is fully disclosed in the, following description and claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a foot control device for automobiles which will possess all the advantages of the mushroom headed pin, or push button. in giving instant and variable control of the throttle. while providing at all times a rest or support for the foot. without interfering with the fullest control of the throttle. and which permits the operator to use it with the foot in a number of different positions so as to enable him to vary the position of the foot from time to time which is preferably desirable in touring over long distances.

In the accompanying drawings which show the best form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention. and a slight modification thereof,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor board of an automobile showing an embodiment of my invention applied thereto, one position of the operators foot being illustrated in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a' portion of an automobile showing my im proved foot control device installed, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation partly in section, of the foot control device illustrating in dotted lines a position of the drivers foot, and also illustrating in dotted lines a second position of the foot effected by rocking the foot sidewise to produce a further depression of the lever.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the control' device and a portion of the floor board.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the control device and floorboard taken longitudinally of the automobile showing in dotted lines the position of the drivers foot with the heel on the floorboard, and the sole or toe supported on the foot rest, and the foot lever partly depressed, and also illustrating in dotted lines a second position of the foot with heel lifted and toe depressed, to effect a further depression of the foot lever by a longitudinal rocking of the foot. 1

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

Referring to the form or embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive 1, 2 represent portions of the flooring of an automobile, adjacent to the drivers seat, the portion 1 being inclined upwardly and forwardly from the horizontal portion 2, as is usual in automobile construction. 3 represents the foot control lever, disposed transversely of the drivers foot, pivotally sup ported at one end at 4, and operatively connected with the throttle valve, in any usual or desired manner, and 5 is the guard or foot rest having its upper surface preferably serrated or roughened as shown, and

diverging vertically from the upper face of the lever 3, and also arranged transversely of the foot, along side of the foot lever or parallel thereto. the foot lever and foot rest preferably having a greater length than the width of the foot. In the present instance I have shown a bracket comprising the transverse foot rest 5 and a second transverse bar 6 parallel thereto, forming a slot 7 between them for the foot lever 3, the bars 5 and 6 being supported at one end by a step 8 having an attaching flange 9 at the bottom, provided with screw holes or other means for attaching it to the floor board, said bars being provided at their opposite ends with a similar attaching flange 1O similarly provided.

The foot lever 3 is conveniently pivoted in the bracket as shown, being mounted on a pivot pin 11 extending longitudinally of the operators foot, which pin, as shown, is provided at one end with a head 12 and at the other end with a cotter pin 13 or other suitable securing means. The foot rest or guard 3 is preferably provided adjacent'to the pivoted end of the foot lever with a vertically disposed stop lug 14 to engage the edge of the sole of the drivers shoe, and prevent the foot from slipping sidewise off of the foot rest, and also to resist any tendency the lever 3 may exert to push the foot toward the pivoted end of the lever, when the driver has the edge of his shoe in engagement with such stop.

The movable end of the foot lever 3 is ar-* ranged in any desired manner to actuate the throttle valve of the engine, so that a downwardpressure on the foot lever at any point in its length will eifect a further opening of the valve, and a retracting spring is ar ranged in conjunction with the foot lever to return the lever to raised position imme diately upon its release- In the present instance I have shown the lever 3 connected with a push rod 15, similar to that which carries the mushroom head in the construction now in use, which is preferably guided in a casing 16 secured to the floorboa-rd 1, and contains a retracting spring 17. 'In Fig. 2 I have illustrated one form of apparatus by which my improved foot control device may be operatively connected to the throttle valve. In this figure 20 represents a lever pivotedat 21 and provided withan arm 22, which is engaged by the push rod 15, connected with the lever 20, or integral therewith is an arm 23 which is operatively connected with a hand throttle carried on or adjacent to the steering post or steering wheel, so that the throttle maybe controlled by either hand or foot independently, as is usual in automobile construction. The lever 20 is also provided with an arm 24 connected thereto or. formed integrally therewith, which is in turn connected-by a link 25, with I an arm 26, on the shaft 27 of the throttle nected to and a retracting spring 29- is conthe arm 24 for nori'nallyclosing the throttle valve and moving it at all times toward the closed position. The particular construction. of the devices for connecting my improved foot control device with the throttle valve forms no part of my invention, and will vary considerably in the va rious makes of automobiles to which the foot control is or may be applied, and the particular construction is shown merely for-the purpose of illustratingla concrete application of my foot control device to a well known form of hrottle actuating mecha-' nism.

It will be understood that my improved control device can be applied to any existing form of throttle actuating mechanism without any material modification thereof. A single retracting spring is sufiicient for ordinary purposes, but/I prefer to employ a retracting spring for the foot lever in addition to the main retracting spring for the throttle lever 20, as shown, and this is the usual practice.

In operating my improved foot control device the operator places the soleof thefoot on the-transverse foot lever 3, and devalve 28,

menace presses thesame until his foot is supported on'the guard or foot rest 5, his heel being supported by the fioorboard 2. A greater depression of the lever can be obtained by rocking the foot laterally as shown in Fig. 3, while the foot is fully supported fore and aft, and any degree of depression can be obtainedand retained. as long as desired, without any strainon themuscles of the foot or leg, At maximum depression the sole will be 'supported all the way across the same, on the guard or foot rest. The raised stop at the right prevents the foot from slipping off of the device and the sloping upper surface of the guard or foot rest, which is preferably roughened or serrated, tends to hold the foot against any tendency of the spring actuated foot lever to push thefoot laterally.

The driver also has a wide variety of positions in which his foot may be used to actuate and hold the foot lever. By a straight push down on the extreme left hand end he can secure instant action of the throttle, and use the device in a. manner similar to the push button now in use, and this may be convenient in an emergency or at particular times. With the sole of the foot engaging the lever 3 and guard 5, he can further depress the lever by a forward rocking of the foot if desired as indicated in Fig. 5 or by a combined forward 5nd lateraltilt By placing the sole of the foot obliquely to the foot lever and guard, the sole will rest along the entire serrated edge of the guard, affording av support for the entire sole, and the lever 3 may be forced downward easily and accurately by moving the sole sidewise or slightly rocking the foot sidewise In this position, which has been found very comfortable on long tours, the foot is very perfectly supported throughout its entire length, and by slightly rocking the foot side wise the extent of depression of the lever 3 may be varied without actual movement bodily of the foot. By my improved device therefore all the advantages of the direct action of the present push button device are secured with theadvantages of enabling the operator to use his foot in a variety of positions while it is supported'at both sole and heel, and to efi'ect the movement of thelever 3 in a variety of ways, while the foot is so supported. The fatigue of the muscles of the leg and foot is'therefore practically and satisfactorily eliminated, especially in touring and continued driving, without any loss of controlor other disadvantageous results.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of my invention in 'which the parts are given the same reference numerals with the letter 'a affixed thereto, for convenience of reference. In this embodiment of the invention the upper surface-of the foot rest 5 is horizontal, and the'upper face of the foot lever 3 diverges-therefrom from its pivot 11,

being inclined upwardly therefrom and provided with an arm 3 at its opposite end connected to the pin 15*. The foot rest or guard in this case will be supported at the left hand end by a second step 8*. I

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a foot control device for automobiles, the combination with a depressible member, disposed transversely of the foot, and means operatively connected with said member for actuating the throttle valve, of afoot rest disposed transversely of the foot, and alongside of said 'depressible member, the upper faces of said depre'ssible member and foot rest diverging from each other vertically, the said foot rest being provided with attaching and supporting means for holding it above the level of the floor board or supporting surface to which it is attached, and a foot engaging stop located adjacent to one end of said foot rest.

2. In a foot control device for automobiles, the combination With a foot lever, disposed transversely of the foot, and pivotally supported at one side of the foot, and means operatively connected with said lever for actuating the throttle valve, of a foot rest disposed transversely of the foot, and the upper faces of said foot lever and foot rest diverging from each other vertically.

3. In a foot control device for automobiles, the combination with a foot lever, pivoted at one end and disposed transversely with respect to the foot and pivotally supported at one end at one side of the foot, and means connected with said lever for actuating the throttle valve, of a stationary foot rest disposed transversely of the foot, and located of said bars forming a stationary foot rest,

of a foot lever located in said slot, and extending transversely of. the foot, a pivotal connection between one end of said lever and said bracket, means connected with said lever for operating the throttle valve, the upper faces of said. lever and foot rest diverging from each other vertically, the upper surface of said foot rest being roughened, and a vertically disposed stop connected with said bracket, adjacent to the point of pivoting of said. lever.

In a foot control device for automobiles, the combination With a foot lever disposed transversely of the foot, pivoted at one side of the foot and having a substantially horizontal upper face, and means connected with said lever for actuating the throttle valve, of a foot rest disposed transversely of the foot, arranged alongside of said foot lever, and having its upper surface inclining downwardly from a point adjacent to the point of pivoting of said lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN ATKINSON STAPLES.

IVitness:

PETER CANTLINE. 

